welding over the head and hot drops

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Hi,Using my mig./mag welder I did some work above my head.Drops of molten (steel) metal did fall inside the gas nozzle and -because hot and glowing- did partially burn awaythe fitting that takes up the nozzle (fitting: coilspring) and where the contact tip is screwed into.I guess, the burned-away part is suboptimal now.i might have been too clumsy, but how do you, experienced welder people, avoid this in the samesituation??Thanks for your kind suggestions.
Reply:I was dealing with the same issue yesterday, lying on my back in the mud under my excavator blade, welding overhead with 0.045 dual shield. Every time enough hot berries got into the nozzle I had to stop and crawl out and clean it out. Finally found an angle that I could hold the torch at so that most of the berries missed the nozzle and instead fell onto me or the ground. Only had one burn when some molten steel found it's way into the sleeve of my leather jacket.I am curious what others have to say. But torch angle is the only thing I could figure out that helped me.P.s. if you're not using gas you can use a longer stickout to help keep the nozzle out of harm's way. Also, make sure your settings are right, if your wire feed speed is not just right for your voltage you'll get more spatter and berries than normalGlenHobart Champion 16Hobart Hefty CC/CVHobart Handler 140Lotos LTP5000D
Reply:Use stick.Ol' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:what filler were you using? what position were you traveling, overhead vertical or actual overhead horizontal?  molten steel, from over heating or spatter?  anti-spatter on nozzle will help spatter bounce off.  You also, can pull the nozzle back considerable from the work while welding.  also, gun angle will reduce nozzle pollution.
Reply:It just takes time to learn not to drop hot metal. But until you learn wear leather it saves your skin.Dave

Originally Posted by oldwelderman

Hi,Using my mig./mag welder I did some work above my head.Drops of molten (steel) metal did fall inside the gas nozzle and -because hot and glowing- did partially burn awaythe fitting that takes up the nozzle (fitting: coilspring) and where the contact tip is screwed into.I guess, the burned-away part is suboptimal now.i might have been too clumsy, but how do you, experienced welder people, avoid this in the samesituation??Thanks for your kind suggestions.
Reply:

Originally Posted by tapwelder

what filler were you using? what position were you traveling, overhead vertical or actual overhead horizontal?  molten steel, from over heating or spatter?  anti-spatter on nozzle will help spatter bounce off.  You also, can pull the nozzle back considerable from the work while welding.  also, gun angle will reduce nozzle pollution.
Reply:I don't overhead weld often, but I've had my share.My biggest tip is to replicate the weld (and position) to be made on practice pieces and get the machine as dialed in as you can.  This cannot be stressed enough, and is the number 1 way to reduce spatter.Gloves with extra long cuffs can really help.I use a flexible neck mig gun, and many times bend the neck so the nozzle faces up.Allows you to get the correct angle while standing away(ish) from the business end of the gun.Anti spatter stuff is your friend, along with mig pliers that are machined to ream/clean the gun parts.  You may be able to get a nozzle with a smaller opening for your mig gun.  Be aware that a higher velocity air stream (higher pressure or smaller opening) may mix in atmospheric air and cause porosity.If I have issues with gas coverage sometimes an "air dam" of angle tacked/clamped next to the weld to be made will help.  If it's really bad I will use dams on each side of the weld, creating a channel to help trap the gas. I've learned if you do overhead for any length of time you're going to get burned.
Reply:Mistake often made is too cold of a setting. I use pretty much same setting as flat, just a little less wire speed. For example if I'm running 275 ipm on flat I'll drop down to 250-260 ipm with same voltage as flat.
Reply:Eventually you learn to embrace the burn.

Lincoln 330MPXLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln LN-25X Wire FeederMagnum PRO 250LX GT Spool GunModified Lincoln 225¼ Ton of Torches OFC-A OFG-AAir Carbon Arc GougingEverlast 62i Plasma CutterIngersoll Rand Type 30 14hpInstagram: #Freebird Welds
Reply:I have no scars from the burns. Until I had chemo and they showed up again. They gone after switching chemoDave

Originally Posted by Freebirdwelds

Eventually you learn to embrace the burn.


Reply:Just because its "overhead welding". doesn't mean you have to be under it.  What I mean is postion your self at angle so that the sparks and droplets dont fall on you.  Or wear some really heavy leathers to protect and embrace the burn...We've done so much, for so long, with so little. Were now qualified to do anything with nothing !
Reply:That is no fun.I did not think pointing out the obvious.But you right.Dave

Originally Posted by welding1

Just because its "overhead welding". doesn't mean you have to be under it.  What I mean is postion your self at angle so that the sparks and droplets dont fall on you.  Or wear some really heavy leathers to protect and embrace the burn...